USA Today: ESPN commentators rip Michigan coach Brady Hoke for leaving in quarterback after big hit
Terrible photo. I bet this gets into most major outlets over the weekend.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/brady-hoke-michigan-quarterback-concuss…
September 28th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
John P, if we were 5-0, and the same thing happened to Morris, (in itself not likely btw), people would still have an issue with a football player obviously hurt and not attended to.
September 28th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
The entire rational Hoke gives for not wearing a headset is so that he can "coach up the kids"--that clap-clap, butt-slap, "Let's go, fellas" thing he does every week. So he can't see that his quarterback is hobbling around on a bad leg and that he was ineffective before injuring himself? Hoke can't see his player take a shot to the chin and then stumble into a teammate who had to prop Morris up to keep him from falling to the turf? Hoke can't see those teammates signalling for medical attention? Then he fucking sends him BACK OUT ONTO THE FIELD rather than take a time out when Bellomy couldn't find his helmet? Disclaimer: I actually had Shane in a class I taught last summer--I can't help but be enraged by this.
Another troubling thing--while I don't condone fighting on the field in most instances, it bothers me that not one of Morris' teammates thought to take it to Mr Minnesota Cheap Shot. For all Hoke's blather about toughness the team accepts dirty hits to teammates as passively as they accept losing. That's on Hoke too.
I can't help but think now of that post on what opposing coaches had to say about the team in the Athlon Michigan write-up. Every one suggested incompetence at the top. I wrote it off at the time, but yeah...
September 28th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
I'm with you, UB, but Lewan was criticized for doing exactly that - not tolerating cheap shots on our quarterback. And come to think of it, what is with all the cheap late hits against our players? Is this garbage being called, aren't people supposed to be ejected from the game? I get that they'd be ejected at the end of the game but some message has to be sent. This is football, not combat.
September 28th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
Who gives a shit if he is limping? The kid played his heart out in that game. Also doesn't "In don't want to see you limp" send a message that players should hide injuries? Did Shane really want to stay in the game or was he simply responding to a belief that his coach looks down on players who come out of the game even if they have legitimate injuries?
September 28th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
I think the most telling part is Khalid Hill pointing to the sideline when Shane walks up to Braden. Obviously Braden and Hill saw that something was wrong. The fact that no one on the sideline realized this is just bad overall management.
September 28th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
Already happened at the game yesterday. And our next home game is against you guys so be prepared to hear it again...unless either one isn't already gone.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
So was this about Shane and what's best for him or was it about Brady stubbornly sticking to his decision?
September 28th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
I've not been one of those constantly criticizing Hoke for not wearing a headset, but this instance is a glaring example of just exactly why it's NECESSARY for a head coach to be directly in touch at all times with the assistants up in the press box, even if he's not calling plays. It's a stretch to accept the notion that Hoke might not have been aware of what happened down on the field, but it's a certainty that those up in the press box saw what was going on and in normal circumstances would have been screaming into his headset to get Morris the fuck off the field and in front of a doctor on the sidelines.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
to support your implied position that somebody on the other end of those headsets knew about the hit and were unsuccessfuly attempting to tell Hoke? Further, do you have evidence to support your implied position that all of the people surrounding Hoke who were wearing headsets weren't able to talk to him?
September 28th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
I don't think anyone is ever saying "Hoke knew he was concussed and told him to play anyway." The actual question is, since he didn't know Morris had a concussion, what the heck was he paying attention to and wasn't there someone on the staff keeping an eye on what was happening on the field?
September 28th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
Hoke SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. And that's the bottom line. The law calls that negligence. I think that's a pretty good way to describe what happened here.
Without a headset on, shouldn't Hoke's entire focus be what's going on, on the field? If he really didn't notice that, I gotta ask -- what THE FUCK was he looking at?
September 28th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
I went batshit during the whole Morris incident yesterday at home. The whole thing points back to a clear lack of management by the coaching staff, specifically Hoke:
1) Clearly wobbly and hurt Morris is pulled out of the game.
2) I see (not that I am all-seeing because I was watching on TV) no administering to Morris on the bench after the shot to his head.
3) Gardner loses his helmet, and a cascade of events occur, due to the aforementioned lack of management:
- Coaches freak out and don't call a timeout before letting Morris(!) go in for the snap.
- Bellomy cannot find his helmet, nor can anyone else find it - this was extremely embarrassing and painful to watch, because I knew what was coming...
- Morris goes in for a snap, horrifyingly
I feel that, as has been said ad nauseam, that Hoke truly cares about his players, but when you are not a good leader and the management of your organization is shoddy, a normally easily-handled event (Gardner losing his helmet) balloons into a mess (Morris taking snap).
September 28th, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
I am sending Dave Brandon this email:
"Dear Dave Brandon,
In view of the coaching staff's incredible negligence regarding removing Shane Morris from the game yesterday after the illegal helmet-to-helmet hit that obviously made him wobbly, as well as the abject failure of team, and mismanagement of the Athletic Department staff over the many marketing gaffes, here's how to create a "Wow" experience:
1. Investigate the situation and immediately fire all coaches and medical staff who knew or should have known that the young man was injured.
2. File a protest with the Big Ten's offices regarding the officials' failure to eject the offending player or call a penalty.
3. Fire yourself for alienating students, alumni, lettermen, and fans with your disgraceful marketing nonense.
Do all that, and it will be the "Wow" experience that the Michigan faithful most desire."
September 28th, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^
Now THAT would be "The Michigan Difference."
September 28th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
He will read mine, and I'll get a snarky response.
September 28th, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
Please copy Mark Schlissel on the cc line. Otherwise, the SPAM filter will send your message to Bolivia.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 28th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
happens. There is no excuse for what happened. I think Hoke was pressured (DB or fanbase) to start Morris, and he was upset by that. So his choice was to leave him in to prove a point to the rest of us. He accomplished losing his team and the few supporters he still had in the fanbase.
I used to like Hoke thinking he was at least a nice guy. Not anymore. His behavior injured a player and he has yet to take responsibility.
September 28th, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
Anyone hear Brandstatter and Dierdorf? I was watching the game on TV but wonder what the radio guys' take on it was.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
I did.
It was pretty damning. There were dumbfounded that Morris was left in as long as he was.
Dierfdorf kept referring to the fact that Shane couldnt defend himself, and therefore had no businees being out there.
They both sounded tremendously relieved when Gardner went in.
Then, they both sounded surprised when Morris went back in for one play to replace Gardner. Mistakenly, they said that Speight had his helmet on and was ready to go in, which led to a small discussion about burning the red shirt. After the commercial break, they were quick to point out their mistake and said that Speight never had his helmet on/was in jeopardy of losing his red-shirt.
They kept trying to get the sideline guy (Crash?) to get them updates on Morris' health. When they finally got the update is was in a very somber voice that Crash said they took Morris' helmet away.
At least this is how I remember it. All very surreal.
September 28th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
I do not believe for a second Hoke was acting with malice. However we have seen that negligence is also a danger. And while I'm ignorant on the whole headset debate, it does make me wonder if he struggles with the big-picture view of things that the HC is supposed to have. I think Hoke has all the right intentions, the players seem to respond to this real quality he has, especially as he recruits.
Also I can't imagine that DB is a fun guy to work for. But even if DB is a micro managing control freak, the HC on the field has responsibility for all those moving parts. He should have a competent and trusted communication tree, of course, but ultimately it's his responsibility.
The interesting thing here is that DB can't fire Hoke without calling his own competence into question.. it would be akin to saying that the most highly paid employee in the university doesn't know how to hire.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
Good. Hoke deserves to get lambasted and criticized for what he did. I know Hoke wasn't trying to hurt Shane or "teach him a lesson about toughness," but what he did was just downright terrible. If I were Shane's parents, I'd be disgusted that my son's health and physical well-being were thrown aside.
If he knew Shane had concussion-like symptoms, leaving him in is negligent and criminal. If he didn't know, he's just an ignorant doofus that isn't paying attention to what everyone else in the whole damn stadium could see.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
Here's the headline from Business Insider:
"
Michigan Coach Leaves Dazed Quarterback In The Game When He Can Barely Stand Up, Appalls Football World
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/michigan-hoke-shane-morris-hit-2014-9#ixzz3EdE5sIFz"
I see I didn't do this correctly, and for that I apologize.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
This won't go away quietly and I don't want it to. I'm literally disgusted at what I witnessed yesterday. In Hoke speak.... I can only speak for myself, but this is my stance on the situation:
"Hoke endangered his student/athlete by either intentional neglect or complete incompetence - plain and simple. He should not be allowed to coach this team one more game."
I don't think he was intentionally trying to hurt Shane, but I do think he was being a stubborn arse by not pulling him sooner. Someone on that sideline should have pulled Shane. Everyone is piling on Hoke (and it does stop with him), but Nuss or ANY of the COACHES/STAFF (including trainers) should have stepped in. Putting him back into the game was the almost criminally negligent. And for Hoke to feign ignorance of the situation speaks to either his incompetence of managing a team or he is flat out lying.
In either situation, I want nothing to do with Hoke or anything he is a part of going forward. I'm not a season ticket holder, but I buy merchandise, wear apparrel, and generally support the team (i.e. went to the BW3 Bowl last year). I'm done until Hoke is gone. I'm not so pissed about Brandon, but he should be gone as well for a whole host of other reasons. However, no matter how much I dislike Brandon, I'd still support the team with him as AD, but not with Hoke in charge of the football team.
Also, by calling for Hoke to get fired, I'm in fact also sealing the fate of a friend - Aaron Wellman. He will most likely not be retained by a new staff, and that means he'll be jobless come the holidays. That's not cool, but what happened to Shane Morris yesterday is way less cool.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^
This team is weak, soft and slow. Do you think Wellman should take any blame?
September 28th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
Hard to say.
I'm actually involved in physical/athletic performance and wellness.
The team doesn't look "soft" so much as it looks "leaderless" "flat" and "desireless"
That, to me, falls on the coaches.
Physically, the defense has looked monstrous at times this season.
Speed-wise everyone looks in pretty good shape.
He's definitely not terrible. But not really outstanding, it seems, though that's much harder to confirm. Everyone still goes to Barwis Methods, about an hour or so away, but Denard has comeback, as well as a few others for training specifically at the Canham Natatorium to work with Wellman et al.
BUT, and again this is STILL Hoke's antiquated methods. Hoke has the players going balls to the wall in practice (an old-timer way of running practice), he says he wants to be able to "hear football", meaning the crack of the pads.
Now, having expertise in my field, I'm in NO WAY equipped to critique what makes for a "better football player", but I will say that the NFL, and many other sports teams, limit their amount of "Full-Speed" time.
There also does seem to be a fair amount of injuries (particularly ACL tears) for the STAR players of this team. I know you want to treat "everyone equally", but in reality, you have to take care of your star players, pay them special attention, of course, you don't want to baby them either, but you have to be careful.
And remember, a lot of these injuries are coming from PRACTICE.
I've only been to a few of the practices, so that's not enough of an indicator, they were differing tempos, but I did not any ACL prevention work. Which, from my analysis, I would STILL have Jake Butt, and Jake Ryan, doing preventative protocols. The STILL run with a valgus knee and externally rotated tibias in the games.
That being said, you'd be surprised how out-of-date, strength and conditioning coaches are in their methods.
Also that being said. Since a S&C coach is so subordinate, and they're clearly just ONE COMPONENT of a football team, there isn't much Wellman can/can't say, even if he feels the players are getting put in the face of clear and present danger.
And most S&C coaches don't speak up. For all the typical social-dynamic reasons.
Despite what others may think, and despite what everyone may try, there still remains a very strong power-dynamic and hierarchy between one man who makes 4 million dollars annually, and one who makes 5% of that.
That being said, Wellman's ability is pretty much moot with the problems we're having.
But it's a good question!
September 28th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^
Jourdan Lewis looked slow last week. 3 years under Wellman made Lewan too weak for the NFL. S&C is not the issue - coaching is. I watched our OL get blown up all day yesterday. High pad level, poor technique, and improper mechanics are not S&C issues - they are coaching issues.
I'm not saying we have the greatest S&C program in the country, but we're far from being bad or even mediocre. I'd say he should take some blame just like anyone associated with this trainwreck should, but it doesn't mean I want a friend to lose his job.
September 28th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
After many years of donating money (not much, but a constant donation is a donation right?) and devotional support to U of M, I have decided that I cannot in good conscious support them after what I and the people watching the game at U of M last night.
My disclaimer is that although I was already angry about the season, yesterday's game was the icing on the cake. I was already prepared for a "hamblasting", which although is tough to swallow, once you're prepared for it, it doesn't hurt as bad. However, I was not prepared for the level of incompetence/ negligence/ or whatever you want to call it exhibited by Brady Hoke and his staff with Shane Morris.
After yesterday's display, how can ANYONE, with a good conscious, allow their child to play football after witnessing what happened with Shane? Yes, I know football is a CONTACT sport and it is a violent sport where injuries are part of the game, but we as society have enacted rules and safety limits to limit and mitigate the injuries so that the game we are watching won't destroy the lives of the people playing it. Further, there should and always be a higher degree of safety and concern being at the forefront at the high school and college levels because, they are still kids/teens and their bodies are still growing, and injuries at that stage of their lives could have much ever lasting detrimental impacts to their health.
I don't know how anyone who was paying any attention to the game, as Brady Hoke said he was doing because he didn't hear the boos, could not have seen what I and the world watching the game saw, which was Shane Morris taking a vicious hit to the upper chest/head area. Then the fact that he needed a lineman to crutch him up from falling was even more telling, but how can someone who was watching the game and paying attention not have seen that?
You can't claim you didn't hear the boos because you were in the zone of the game, and then claim you didn't see Shane being concussed. You can't have your cake and eat it too at the same time, but judging from Hoke, I guess you can. So, if you claim to deflect that you didn't hear the boos because you were paying attention to the game, then you SHOULD have saw what I saw on tv, 2000 miles away from AA. I mean you have a front row seat. Secondly, your OC that you just hired is on the field, so he can "look into the eyes of his qb and judge his demeanor". Well where was Nuss at? Why didn't he guage Shane's eyes and clearly see that they were probably crossed or he was seeing stars? So many things don't add up here.
If I kept my support and donate more money to go the program with the current leaders then I am essentially donating money to people who jeopardize the health of kids/teens at the expense of their incompetence/ negligence or whatever you call it. This is something that is NOT MICHIGAN, nor the Michigan I went to school at and support.
I am not saying Hoke doens't love his players or isn't a player's coach, but what I am saying is that the sort of incompetence/ negligence he exhibited this past Saturday rises to a whole new level. Even if this was just pure negligence (which i do believe it was), it is the type that is unacceptable with the current climate of CTE, safety, and health. I don't care what coach would have done this, Saban, Spurrier, or if Bo was still alive, but in this current day and age, it is extremely unacceptable and meriting a change of personnel.